The headline of the New York Daily News, October 7, 1992, read:

"SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE".  

A Fifty two year old woman, having caught her bag in the subway door, had been dragged to her death. The awfulness of the tragedy was made worse by the fact that all she had to do was let go of her bag!

Life is precious to all of us and we will do almost anything to preserve it. Needless death always brings great sadness. The real tragedy in this case is that it could so easily have been avoided. Imagine for a moment you were faced with a decision that meant life or death for you. You would want to make the right choice first time wouldn’t you?

“Why will ye die?” is taken from the book of Ezekiel. God laid out His case against His people Israel. Their sins against Him were terrible and numerous, and His holy wrath was kindled against them.

Ezekiel 18:30-31 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn  yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  

There are greater tragedies though than physical death. Eternal death is far worse.

Our society stands under the just judgment of a Holy God. The Bible clearly tells us that we are all sinners. All who are honest will admit to having broken God’s holy law. Just as God was forced to judge Israel, He is forced to judge our sin.

      Revelation 21:8

   But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

However, God has no delight in our judgment. As with Israel, it is mercy that God desires to grant.

Ezekiel 18: 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD:

God’s desire to show mercy is such that He sent His son to die that we might not have to bear the cost of our sin. When Jesus hung on the cross He was not paying the price for any sin of His own but for our sin, the sin that you and I are guilty of committing. Have you ever considered that it was your sin that put Jesus on the cross? He hung there, to the scorn of all mankind, a testimony of the love of God and a testimony to His desire to show mercy where judgment was really due.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him (depends upon him) should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Israel did not turn from their sins and God was left with no option but to judge. He wanted mercy but they would not give up their sin. A Holy God cannot ignore sin nor can He fail to judge it. Israel was invaded by the Babylonians who slaughtered many and took the survivors into captivity. The real tragedy was that it could have been avoided if they had been willing to turn from their sin.

Ezekiel 18: 32 “Wherefore turn     yourselves, and live ye”

Never has there been a greater display of love than God sending His Son to die for our sin. However, just as with Israel we must repent and turn from our sin to the Saviour or face the just deserts of our sin.

The question can just as well be asked of the people of Ireland in the year 2006.Why will ye die? Remember the woman on the subway? She died needlessly. That was a tragedy, but a much greater tragedy faces us. It is an eternity separated from God in a place called Hell. The love of God cries out to you! Why will you die? In the depths of our hearts we all know that we are sinners, guilty before a holy God. We have broken His law, but instead of judgment He would grant mercy on condition that we repent, that is turn from our sin, and realize our need of a Saviour and depend upon Him for eternal life.

If you would like to turn from your sin to the Saviour, pray the sinner’s prayer below.

 Dear Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and deserve the judgment of Hell. I believe that you died in my place for my sin. I do now turn from my sin and put all my trust and dependence in you for my salvation and life everlasting. Thank you for saving me. Amen.